Bayer Leverkusen-Bayern Munich is a match on the 21st day of the Bundesliga and is played on Saturday at 6:30pm: TV, likely lineups, predictions.
This weekend it is the Bundesliga that takes center stage among Europe’s top 5 leagues. In Germany it stops for the highly anticipated summit clash between the two teams that are vying for the coveted Meisterschale, namely Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.
Only two points separate them in the standings. Ahead, at 52, are the Aspirins of Xabi Alonso, the main architect of this incredible first part of the season for the Rossoneri. In just over a year and a half, thanks in part to a series of targeted purchases, the Basque coach with his innovative ideas has transformed Bayer Leverkusen into a credible contender for the title, bypassing more equipped clubs on paper such as Borussia Dortmund and Leipzig. Werkself already has more points after twenty days than he collected last season and, more importantly, is still undefeated. Not only in the league but also in the Europa League and the German Cup. By the way, this week Leverkusen also made it through the round of the national cup, beating Stuttgart 3-2 at the end of a pyrotechnic match and advancing to the semifinals. Alonso’s team has very few weak points: however, it will not be easy to dethrone Bayern Munich, which has now held the scepter of German champion for 11 years.
Tuchel dreams of overtaking
The Bavarians, despite some glaring slips, are always there and several times have prevented the Aspirins from escaping, taking advantage of their sporadic half-steps, for example.
In 2024, Thomas Tuchel’s battleship missed only one game, the one with Werder Bremen (0-1). For the rest have come exclusively victories: last Saturday even Borussia Monchengladbach had to bow out, beaten 3-1 at the Allianz Arena. Bayern, dragged by Harry Kane – the Englishman has scored 24 goals in 20 games and aims to break Lewandowski’s record in the 2020-21 season – boasts the best attack in the tournament (five goals more than Bayer) but defensively has done worse than the Rossoneri. Tuchel in the direct clash will have to do without several starters: the injured Gnabry, Coman and Davies are missing from the roll call, while former Neapolitan Kim, back from the Asian Cup, will sit on the bench. It will be up to newcomer Borja Iglesias to lead the Leverkusen attack instead, supported by Hofmann and Wirtz. Palacios’ presence is in doubt.
The prediction
Bayer Leverkusen remained undefeated in their last two confrontations with Bayern Munich: a 2-1 win in March 2023 and a draw (2-2) last September at the Allianz Arena. The Bavarians may not be the steamroller of previous seasons but, despite a few absences, they remain the team to beat. And even the bookmakers themselves agree, considering them slight favorites. In our opinion, there are preconditions for a spectacular match between two healthy teams that like to impose their game against any opponent. Leverkusen should be able to avoid defeat in a match of at least three total goals.
Bayer Leverkusen-Bayern Munich
likely lineups.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN (3-4-2-1): Hrádecký; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Wirtz; Borja Iglesias.
BAYERN MONACO (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Mazraoui, Upamecano, de Ligt, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Goretzka; Müller, Musiala, Sané; Kane.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
